Hz. Yuşa Tomb
About the Person:
- Yuşa, known in Hebrew as Yehoshua, means “God saves.” He was the son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim among the Israelites. Initially the assistant of Prophet Moses, he later succeeded him as the leader of the Israelites.
- According to the Torah, he led the first battle against the Amalekites, accompanied Moses to Mount Sinai, and remained with him in the tent of meeting. He was one of the twelve scouts sent to the Promised Land, and along with Caleb, was among the only two who trusted in God and were allowed to enter.
- After the death of Moses, he was appointed by God to lead the people, defeated the Canaanites, distributed the land among the tribes, and placed the Ark of the Covenant in Shiloh. He died at the age of 110 and was buried in Timnath-serah on Mount Ephraim. In Jewish tradition, he is regarded as both a prophet and a military leader.
- Although he is not explicitly named in the Qur’an, some scholars believe he is referenced indirectly in the chapters of al-Ma’idah and al-Kahf.
- The Yuşa Hill in Beykoz, Istanbul, is a symbolic tomb site attributed to him. His actual grave is believed to be in Palestine. The hill has been considered sacred since antiquity—first dedicated to Zeus, later to Archangel Michael during the Byzantine era, and eventually transformed into a tomb and dervish lodge in the Islamic period.
- The origin of the name ‘Yuşa’ for the hill is debated; one theory suggests it comes from ‘yuğşa,’ a red dye used for marking sheep, once common in the area.
- In Turkish popular belief, Yuşa is considered one of the four spiritual guardians of the Bosphorus, alongside Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi (Üsküdar), Telli Baba (Sarıyer), and Yahya Efendi (Beşiktaş).
About the Tomb:
Construction Year: 1755–56
Ordered by: Yirmisekizçelebizade Mehmed Said Pasha
Architect: Unknown
Prominent Features:
- In ancient times, this site hosted a temple to Zeus. During the Byzantine era, Emperor Justinian converted it into a church dedicated to Archangel Michael.
- In the Islamic period, the area was believed to be the resting place of Prophet Yuşa. A tomb and dervish lodge were built, preserving its sanctity. The long grave found here is widely believed to mark Yuşa’s symbolic resting place, combining ancient monumental tomb beliefs and mountaintop sanctity with Islamic traditions.
- The first mention of the grave at Yuşa Hill comes from Evliya Çelebi. Antoine Galland also visited the site in 1673 and noted a guardian assigned to the area.
- In 1755, during the Ottoman period, Grand Vizier Yirmisekizçelebizade Mehmed Said Pasha built a small mosque and surrounded the grave with a stone wall, appointing caretakers for its upkeep.
- Due to overwhelming public interest, public recitation of the Mawlid was temporarily banned during the reign of Sultan Selim III. The mosque and lodge were reconstructed faithfully during the reign of Sultan Abdulaziz in 1863–64, and the complex has undergone several renovations since.
- The exact origin of the name ‘Yuşa Hill’ remains unclear. One theory suggests it derives from ‘yuğşa,’ a red dye used for marking sheep, commonly found in the region.
- Historians such as Hammer and Ayvansarayi have noted that the traditions here may reflect older beliefs about saints or legendary figures rather than a genuine prophetic tomb.
